greetings from uganda

i never thought i would write a blog. actually, i tried to define the word to my friend today, and discovered i wasn't really sure what it meant. those who know me well, know i am not computer savvy and not tech minded. those just aren't my strong suits. i like to travel, i like people, i love kids and i love following God's plan for me. guess that's how i found myself living on gayaza road, luteete, kampala, uganda.....sometimes a relatively quiet neighborhood, sometimes noisy with tear gas blasts and sirens, i'm told this is referred to as 'washington road', home of local politicians.
it took a lot of work, time and money to register Desana Uganda. we're so glad we did, as the government has been ousting larger, richer and more powerful american charities for not being licensed in the country of uganda. andrew semwogerere, my partner, and director of DU, has been invaluable. fortunately, he knows when to keep quiet (when i'm whining about lack of power or hot water) and when to speak up (when someone is trying to overcharge us or is hindering us when we are working to help the kids). God connected us through a facebook friend that neither of us has ever met. thank you sarah...one day we will meet you.

From the Heart House Update

Dear Friends,
Thank you to everyone for your moral, physical and spiritual support. From The Heart House is emerging in the community despite the many, often frustrating, challenges.
We are blessed to have a van in our possession! It enables us to reach the areas to take our ministry, to transport food and other tangible items and to visit other ngo's which are doing similar work in the community.
The House is slowly, but surely, taking shape. The main source of frustration is electricity, or should I say lack of it? Grid power may only be available a few hours a day and sometimes not at all for several days. We bought an inverter for back up power, then a new battery for it......but it (as most things in Uganda) continues to give us problems. Water has to be trucked in and is pumped into a large concrete tank. When we are without power, we cannot pump that water to the elevated gravity tank and then the problem of no water in the house becomes an issue. I never thought I would say this, but we are blessed to have 2 outdoor toilets on the property!!! There isn't hot water available in the house, there is a constant stream of ants marching across the counters and tiny "mos-quee- tos" are ever present, along with many small pinkish green lizards. We purchased a stove and a refrigerator, but I am constantly discarding food that was only half cooked on the stove or spoiled in the refrigerator.